El vehículo eléctrico dispone de baterías de iones de litio con una potencia de 21 kilovatios, para alimentar un motor eléctrico de imanes permanentes de 50 kilovatios, equivalentes aproximadamente a 70 caballos de potencia, con una autonomía de 160 kilómetros y una velocidad máxima de 113 km/h.
La recarga de las baterías se puede realizar a través de una toma de corriente convencional en un tiempo aproximado de 6 a 8 horas, tiempo que puede ser reducido si el punto de recarga es un poste de "electrolinera", con más voltios y amperios para acelerar la recarga.
El nuevo aspecto del Ford Connect se mostró en el Salón de Barcelona de 2009 con nuevos diseños de interior y exterior que se aplicarán a toda la gama Connect. El vehículo expuesto dispone, además, de un motor eléctrico alimentado con batería (BEV) que muestra como aplica Ford su plan global de electrificación en Europa.
Este motor eléctrico mostrado en el Connect, ha sido desarrollado en colaboración con Smith Electric Vehicles, el especialista europeo en conversión de vehículos comerciales eléctricos, que es parte de la compañía británica Tanfield Group.
Desde 1920, Smith ha convertido decenas de miles de vehículos en coches eléctricos. En Inglaterra y en algunos mercados europeos, Smith ya ofrece versiones eléctricas de la Ford Transit a clientes de flotas y este año presentará una versión eléctrica del Ford Connect. Es esta tecnología la que se muestra en el Connect BEV Concept.
Desde 2007 Ford ha colaborado con Tanfield en el desarrollo de vehículos eléctricos de batería sobre chasis Ford, incluidos los vehículos comerciales medios Transit y Connect.
Para el Connect BEV Concept se ha elegido la batería eléctrica más avanzada. Una batería de iones de litio de 21 KWh. que acumula energía suficiente para mover un motor de 50 KW. mientras que el par es transmitido a los semiejes a través de una transmisión de una sola velocidad. Con este conjunto, Smith Electric Vehicles ofrece una autonomía de 160 kilómetros y una velocidad máxima de 113 Km. por hora.
Recargar el coche es un ejercicio sencillo: el cargador de a bordo puede ser conectado directamente a un enchufe normal, consiguiendo la carga total entre 6 y 8 horas.
La utilización del ahora vehículo global Ford Connect, muestra la capacidad de Ford para ofrecer productos con posibilidades de comercializarse en todo el mundo. El impulso de Ford Motor Company hacia su plan de electrificación responde a la visión global de producto “One Ford”.
El dinámico plan sobre coches eléctricos que se anunció el pasado mes de enero en Detroit dará lugar a una serie de vehículos eléctricos, híbridos e híbridos conectables, inicialmente destinados al mercado estadounidense y potencialmente a los mercados del resto del mundo durante los próximos 4 años.
El Connect BEV Concept también muestra el nuevo aspecto de la gama que será lanzada más adelante, con un paragolpes y parrilla rediseñados delante, con la característica forma trapezoidal, con nuevos faros y pilotos, que refuerzan el aspecto moderno. El interior se ha rediseñado, con un salpicadero al estilo de un turismo y asientos mejorados.
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Ford Transit Connect BEV to be built in Kansas City by Smith EV
Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation announced today that the site of its new factory will be in Kansas City, MO. The plant, which will produce a variety of battery-powered commercial vehicles, will be located at part of the Kansas City International (KCI) Airport overhaul base that is being redeveloped.
When production starts in the third quarter of this year, the first product will be the Newton delivery van which has been available in the UK for some time. In 2010, the plant will also start producing the Ford Transit Connect BEV for Ford. The electric Transit Connect will be the first of several plug-in vehicles that Ford will launch starting next year.
Among the first companies that will buying US built Smith EVs is Canteen Vending Services. The press releases from Smith and Ford are after the jump.
Ford Motor Company partner Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corporation (SEV U.S. Corp.) has announced the all-electric zero emission in 2010. Ford Transit Connect will be assembled at SEV’s plant in Kansas City, Mo., beginning next year. The chassis will be built by Ford, with the electric drivetrains and lithium-ion battery packs installed by S.E.V. U.S. Corp.
The Transit Connect battery electric vehicle (BEV), based on Ford’s all-new globally developed small vehicle platform, will provide a sustainable mobility solution for the growing number of commercial vehicle fleet operators who have expressed interest in electric vehicles.
Transit Connect BEV is the initial offering in Ford’s aggressive electric vehicle plan. In addition, Ford also will introduce in North America:
* A new battery electric small car in 2011
* Next-generation hybrid vehicles in 2012
* Plug-in hybrid versions in 2012
The decision made by SEV U.S. Corp. to locate the Transit Connect BEV plant at the former American Airlines overhaul base at Kansas City International Airport is expected to create 120 jobs by 2010, and represents an initial investment of $10 million in the metro area.
SEV U.S. Corp. is privately held and owned by U.S. investors and UK-based The Tanfield Group Plc. Tanfield also oversees Smith’s UK-based operation, which has been the leading manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric commercial vehicles in Europe since the 1920s, having converted tens of thousands of vehicles to battery electric power, including BEV versions of the Ford Transit medium commercial vehicle.
Transit Connect’s unique combination of driving dynamics, cargo capacity, accessibility and low costs of entry and operation make it a logical platform for battery electric power. Transit Connect has been designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford of Europe on a dedicated global commercial vehicle platform to beat tough, light commercial vehicle durability standards.
Many commercial users travel predictable, short-range routes, with frequent stop and go driving in urban and suburban environments. For companies aiming for sustainable mobility solutions, Transit Connect BEV will help them deliver in an environmentally friendly way.
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FORD INVESTS $550 MILLION TO BUILD NEW GLOBAL SMALL CARS, ELECTRIC VEHICLE AT MICHIGAN PLANT
* Ford invests $550 million to transform Michigan Assembly Plant (formerly Michigan Truck Plant) from a large SUV factory into a modern, flexible small car plant
* Production for the North American market of the new global Ford Focus begins next year followed by production in 2011 of a battery-electric Focus, helping Ford meet its promise of delivering four new electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2012
* The investment will support approximately 3,200 jobs at Michigan Assembly
* Ford and United Auto Workers are developing a framework of new and leading-edge operating practices at the plant that will ensure high quality and maximum efficiency
* The state of Michigan and local governments provided tax incentives and grants that enabled the investment in Michigan Assembly, which will be designated as the state’s first automotive technology anchor site.
WAYNE, Mich., May 6, 2009 – Ford Motor Company said today it is investing $550 million to transform its Michigan Assembly Plant into a lean, green and flexible manufacturing complex that will build Ford’s next-generation Focus global small car along with a new battery-electric version of the Focus for the North American market.
The plant, formerly the production site for Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigators SUVs, is one of three North American light truck plants Ford is retooling to build fuel-efficient global small cars in the coming years. The new Focus will begin rolling off the line next year and the battery-electric version of the Focus – Ford’s first all-electric passenger car – debuts in 2011.
As part of the retooling, Ford will consolidate its operations from Wayne Assembly Plant. When production launches in 2010, approximately 3,200 employees will be building the new Focus at Michigan Assembly Plant. At the plant, Ford and United Auto Workers are developing modern new operating practices to ensure high quality and even greater efficiency.
“The transformation of Michigan Assembly Plant embodies the larger transformation under way at Ford,” said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. “This is about investing in modern, efficient and flexible American manufacturing. It is about fuel economy and the electrification of vehicles. It is about leveraging our expertise and vehicle platforms around the world and partnering with the UAW to deliver best-in-class global small cars. It is about skilled and motivated teams working together in new ways to create the future of automobile manufacturing in the United States.”
The reinvention of Michigan Assembly, once one of the world’s most profitable auto plants during the SUV boom of the late 1990s, is rooted in the fundamental strategic shift by Ford to leverage its global assets to bring six world-class small cars to the American market by the end of 2012. To produce the vehicles, Ford is converting three truck and SUV plants to car plants – Michigan Assembly, Cuautitlan Assembly in Mexico, which begins building the new Fiesta subcompact early next year; and Louisville (Ky.) Assembly, which will be converted to produce small vehicles from Ford’s global Focus platform beginning in 2011.
The new Focus is being developed in Europe – where Ford is a leader in small cars – off a new global C-car platform. Over time, the new platform will be the basis for more than 2 million units annually around the world, including Focus and other derivatives, allowing Ford to leverage economies of scale to improve investment efficiency.
The zero-emission Focus battery-electric vehicle, which is being developed in partnership with Magna International, features a high-voltage electric motor powered by a high capacity Lithium Ion battery pack and charged by plugging in to a 110-volt or 220-volt outlet. The vehicle is one part of a larger strategy Ford announced in January to develop electric vehicles for North America quickly and affordably by leveraging its global platform capability.
In addition to the Focus battery electric vehicle, Ford is collaborating with Smith Electric to sell a Transit Connect battery electric commercial vehicle for North America in 2010. Ford’s product plans also include a next-generation hybrid vehicle in 2012 and a plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2012.
“We’re changing from a company focused mainly on trucks and SUVs to a company with a balanced product lineup that includes even more high-quality, fuel-efficient small cars, hybrids and all-electric vehicles,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “As customers move to more fuel-efficient vehicles, we’ll be there with more of the products they really want.”
Investing in American manufacturing
The $550 million investment in Michigan Assembly includes more than $430 million in manufacturing investment at the site, as well as $120 million for launch and engineering costs. In addition, Ford will be making significant investment in supplier tooling to support the plant.
The state of Michigan, Wayne County and the city of Wayne contributed more than $160 million in tax credits and grants to support Ford’s expansion opportunities. Key elements include:
* Tax incentives based on job retention at the site;
* A Brownfield tax incentive for economic rehabilitation of the site;
* Tax incentives to support integration of advanced batteries into new product development programs and
* Local property tax incentives for new investments at the site
Michigan Assembly Plant will be designated as the state’s first automotive technology anchor site. This designation will support Ford’s efforts by providing additional tax incentives to locate advanced technology suppliers in Michigan, related to future automotive technology applications.
“Ford is investing in both the future of the American auto industry and the state of Michigan by bringing together world-class products, advanced technology applications and strong partnerships with the UAW to build the next generation of vehicles that will help end our nation’s dependence on foreign oil,” said Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. “In these challenging economic times, we applaud and appreciate Ford’s commitment to Michigan and to our talented workforce.”
Michigan Assembly Transformation
At the heart of the plant’s manufacturing transformation is a flexible body shop operation, which uses reprogrammable tooling in the body shop, standardized equipment in the paint shop and a common-build sequence in final assembly, enabling production of multiple models in the same plant.
Aiding in the implementation of flexible manufacturing is Ford’s industry-leading virtual manufacturing technology. In the virtual world, engineers and plant operators evaluate tooling and product interfaces before costly installations are made on the plant floor. This method of collaboration improves launch quality and enables speed of execution.
In a flexible body shop, at least 80 percent of the robotic equipment can be programmed to weld various sized vehicles. This “non-product specific” equipment gives the body shop its flexibility and provides more efficient use of the facility.
The plant also will employ an efficient, synchronous material flow, where the material will move in kits to each operator, providing employees with the tools they need in the sequence they will need them. The plant features an integrated stamping facility, which allows the stamping and welding of all large sheet-metal parts on-site, ensuring maximum quality and minimum overhead.
Modern Work Rules
Along with the physical transformation at Michigan Assembly Plant, the UAW and Ford are working on a framework of new and class-leading operating practices that will enable the plant to operate at a high level of productivity while producing best-in-class quality products in a safe work environment.
As part of this framework, Ford and the UAW are committed to establishing a strong, progressive culture at Michigan Assembly Plant that is based on teamwork, joint problem solving and continuous improvement.
“The UAW is a key partner in enabling us to build these world-class vehicles competitively in the United States,” said Joe Hinrichs, group vice president, Global Manufacturing and Labor Affairs. “This agreement will allow the work force to build on their quality commitment while improving productivity at the plant.”
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
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